Pick up the phone today as part of a national call-in day to TIAA-CREF’s CEO Roger Ferguson at (212) 490-9000 to say: Let your shareholders vote on divestment! (See sample scripts below.)
Dial: (212) 490-9000, Press 1, when prompted for name of person you are calling say: “Roger Ferguson”
In the past, TIAA-CREF has shut down Ferguson’s phone line in response to mass call-in actions. Luckily, you can still get your message through by trying other lines!
1. If the phone number does not go through at all, try calling 212-913-2803 or 866-842-2442. Press 1, and when prompted for name of person you are calling say: Roger Ferguson
2. If the extension to Ferguson does not work, then call another high-ranking TIAA-CREF official. For the Chief Operating Officer, press 1 and say “Ronald Pressman”. For the Chief Financial Officer, press 1 and say “Gina Wilson”.
3. If all lines are not working, call your local office. Find the number here: https://www.tiaa-cref.org/public/support/contact/regional
Thank you for your perseverance!
P.S. After you have called in, please help spread the word and keep the pressure on TIAA-CREF by posting to Twitter and/or Facebook. The short link for this page is http://bit.ly/10pwoh3. Here are some sample tweets:
I told @TC_Talks, Don’t block the vote on divestment from Israeli Occupation! Will you? http://bit.ly/10pwoh3 #DumpVeolia #BDS
ACT: @TC_Talks about social responsibility but silences vote on divestment from Israel’s occupation http://bit.ly/10pwoh3 #DumpVeolia #BDS
ACT: Tell @TC_Talks it’s time to listen: let shareholders vote on divestment. http://bit.ly/10pwoh3 #DumpVeolia #BDS
Tell @TC_Talks there’s still time to do the right thing: don’t block the divestment vote. http://bit.ly/10pwoh3 #DumpVeolia #BDS
Churches debate divestment, why can’t @TC_Talks shareholders? http://bit.ly/10pwoh3 #DumpVeolia #BDS
Campuses debate divestment, why can’t @TC_Talks shareholders? http://bit.ly/10pwoh3 #DumpVeolia #BDS
Sample Scripts
If not a TIAA-CREF Investor
“Hi, my name is <Marge> and I’m a <health care worker, teacher, student> and a potential TIAA-CREF client.” (everyone is a potential TIAA-CREF client!)
I was appalled to find out that TIAA-CREF is AGAIN trying to censor discussion of human rights violations being committed by the companies in your investment portfolios. Campuses and churches nationwide have taken up this debate–why can’t your shareholders be allowed to vote on if they want their retirement money invested in companies like Veolia or Caterpillar make their profits from segregated buses for settlements and systematically demolishing Palestinian communities?
I know the SEC has said you do not have to include the resolution, but you can still choose to do the right thing and include it.
I always thought TIAA-CREF provided financial services with a commitment to the greater good. Human rights violations and violations of international law don’t sound like the greater good to me. And muzzling debate does not sound like the move of a company that cares about free discourse and shareholder democracy.
I stand with your clients who want a chance to vote their moral concerns and I condemn your attempts to censor them!
If a TIAA-CREF investor:
“Hi, my name is <Ronald> and I’m a TIAA-CREF Participant”
I was appalled to find out that TIAA-CREF is AGAIN trying to censor discussion of human rights violations being committed by the companies in your investment portfolio. Campuses and churches nationwide have taken up this debate–as a TIAA-CREF client, I want the opportunity to vote if I want my retirement money invested in companies like Veolia or Caterpillar which make their profits from segregated buses for settlements and systematically demolishing Palestinian communities.
I know the SEC has said you do not have to include the resolution, but you can still choose to do the right thing and include it.
I have the right to speak my mind about how you spend my money, and I urge you to include the divestment resolution on this summer’s proxy.
